Kingdom 103: Spreading Your Culture

What is meant by spreading your culture? In essence, culture is who you are--your beliefs, customs and standards. It reflects your very being. Even when one speaks to another, your speech will identify them. This is what happens to all great citizens of the Kingdom of God. Before the Lord Jesus spread the culture of the Kingdom of Heaven, He was first introduced to the world. John, His cousin, had that honor. In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight.’”

Please understand, repentance is not merely a change of mind, but a radical change in one's life as a whole. To "repent" is to turn around, to turn your back on your disobedience, which is sin. What made John's message so profound is that he came from another culture. It was a foreign sound to those who heard it. It was not of this world. He was introducing a King who had the very Spirit of God within Himself. Once you are reborn through the Spirit, you must learn the laws and principles of your newfound regeneration. Studying the Constitution must be an ongoing process. The ambassador Paul made this statement in his letters to Timothy: But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

As ambassadors, we must always be very aware of how we speak around others. We should speak of what we know to be correct according to God's Word. We should always lean on the guidance of the Holy Spirit (our Governor). That is why God sent Him to live within us. Read the condition to receiving the Holy Spirit: If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. The Holy Spirit (the Governor) is your passport to the Kingdom. When Jesus made this statement--“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him."--He was speaking of the Holy Spirit living in our mortal bodies. We have to love and obey His Son. We should always lean and depend on the Governor (Holy Spirit) for our guidance. We do not lean on our education from this world system. Listen to what the Lord Jesus stated while He was here on earth. “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

The Holy Spirit spreads the Kingdom culture through us, His citizens who are filled with His Spirit. It spreads like yeast through our homes, neighborhoods, schools, cities and beyond. If you are trying to fulfill this task without His Spirit, you most definitely will fall short. You will become frustrated. Living a Kingdom lifestyle means obeying His Word each and every day to the point that Kingdom will "ooze out of your very pores". People will feel it, see it, and it will affect them to the point they will change their behavior because of it. Yes Lord! Your kingdom come. Your will be done. On earth as it is in heaven.

Also, we must stop taking credit for what the Holy Spirit has accomplished through us! We are the willing vessel, nothing more. It is the Holy Spirit doing a work through us. Always remember, your greatest asset is your faith in Jesus the Christ--His Word.